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New Year Starts NOW

Sunday, January 13th, 2008

I’ve become so inconsistent and lazy about writing that the subject is history before I’ve begun.  It leaves me only to record fuzzy summaries, constants, and what’s on the calendar (although I’m learning the lesson that plans are but a crayon-sketched blueprint for what really happens).   

The fuzzy summaries:
–Another great trip with Kristin come and gone in a blur of giggles and shutter clicks. 

–Another reunion with Daniel, its blur colored with a rainbow of green hair, blue hair, flowers and feathers.  (Visible proof in our Jambalaya Music Festival photos).    

–Unfortunately both reunions had certain end dates as we scattered for beginning the new year with seemingly all-important tasks:  money, accommodation, jobs, moving, planning, sorting, solving.  Luckily, I am certain that both adventure stories are “to be continued….” 

The constants:
I can no longer call this odd lifestyle of mine “exceptional” as it’s become too “normal.”  Another year come and gone in a gala of countries, flights, financial stresses, and forever foggy futures.  A year begun and ended in India, begun and ended in New Zealand, begun and ended with plans to be a resident there.   I guess I am fueled by the constants of new and old friendships, family time and fun.  And there’s at least one constant in my location—sitting and swinging my legs over THE REST OF MY LIFE.  It’s not a seat reserved for New Year’s, but I warm my buns on it daily.  I am so completely proud and excited for my friends and parents who recently bravely exited “THE COMFORT ZONE” to enter the more risky, less predictable BEYOND—baristas, babies, relocating to the past, relocating to exciting futures, new countries, bold plans….  

The calendar:
I couldn’t have guessed a few months ago that instead of settling into New Zealand right now I’d be making arrangements for a move to Joplin, Missouri.   Like I said, I surrender the job of making plans!  I haven’t however given up on the hope of making it back to Kiwiland for a more authentic stretch, but just have some “adult responsibilities” (cough) to take care of.  [If you call dealing with an unseen, valueless house in Arizona something “adult.”] 

As I now fully realize my only shared power in effecting my plans, there’s a bit of fear looking over this edge.  However, I chant ad nauseam, “the unknown is good.”   I will also chant, “Thank God for the constants that make me so happy.”   🙂